In the 70s and 80s, the Russians provided the stereotypical bad guys in scores of western films.
Then, it was all about spies, the KGB and the Cold War.
But when Gorby talked of glasnost and perestroika and then the wall came down did we really think all those Russians would be allowed to slip off to the ballot box and vote for a western-style democracy?
Ok, they were allowed to vote but democracy is an illusion. The reality, in the 1990s at least, was that the power was simply passed from the Politburo to the oligarchs who controlled big industry, particularly oil.
One of those was Mikhail Khodorkovsky.
In the 1990s, he became the richest man under 40 in the world. Yet for the last eight years he has been resident in a Siberian jail (yes, they still get sent there).
Cyril Tuschi's film is an investigation into the rise and fall of Khodorkovsky and questions why he allowed himself to be imprisoned when his peers all did a runner from their homeland.
The film, cleverly put together with a series of interviews with high-profile figures, archive footage and occasion animation of events, is intended to stir feathers.
Indeed, Tuschi began to fear for his own safety during its filming.
But he persevered getting words from all of those closest to Khodorkovsky before nailing an interview with the man himself from behind the bars of a courtroom cage.
Tuschi's problem is contained within Khodorkovsky's own enigma. Even his own family are unclear on some of his motivation.
To try to overcome this, Tuschi attempts to analyse his political thinking. But it becomes clear that this has become muddier over the years.
Safe to say, President Putin is determined to keep him out of his hair for as long as possible. One wouldn't be surprised if more charges are filed against him and he gets to spend even longer in jail.
I enjoyed this documentary. It is clear that Tuschi put a heck of a lot of work as well as a high level of his soul into it. The result is impressive.
Laughs: none
Jumps: none
Vomit: none
Nudity: none
Overall rating: 7.5/10